Joker 2: The New Images from the Set and the Musical Speculations
New and elegant images of Joker 2 in which Joaquin Phoenix returns to take on the role of Arthur Fleck, the infamous Joker. At the same time, Lady Gaga makes her debut in the saga as an intriguing version of Harley Quinn. Todd Phillips seems to have worked to transport fans into a world of madness and passion, where love and chaos intertwine in a deadly dance. The director himself also revealed that the film’s first trailer will be released in mid-April, which we expect to be no less than mind-blowing and suspenseful.
The dark side of love manifested itself on Valentine’s Day in the DC Comics universe. And superhero fans received an unexpected gift this February 14: an exclusive photographic preview of the long-awaited film Joker: Folie à Deux, which arrives thanks to its director Todd Phillips. Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, as Joker and Harley Quinn, shocked in a first look at the intensity of their future romance in this new installment of the Batman antagonist. Celebrating romance in its most macabre version, Phillips, the creator of the film, shared three snapshots through Instagram that revealed the turbulent relationship between the Joker and Harley Quinn, which will soon come to life on the big screen. The first image showed Phoenix, characterized as his character Arthur Fleck with the look of the Joker, alongside Gaga, playing Dr. Harleen Quinzel, aka Harley Quinn, his criminal partner. Both are wrapped in a dark and symbolic background that recalls the shape of a heart.
Joker 2 New Images of Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix
The gloomy image of the couple highlighted a crucial detail: the influence of the Joker on Harley, evidenced in the latter’s makeup. Although the photographs already known where Lady Gaga looked like Quinn while filming, this new series of snapshots revealed a blue rhombus painted in one of the villain’s eyes, imitating her beloved Arthur. This is something that has not been seen before in any other film in history.
The second photograph takes fans to a more intimate setting, where the protagonists share a moment of connection through the bars of a cell, possibly corresponding to Arkham Asylum, where the Joker remained locked up. The unusual combination of tenderness and dementia surrounds the black-and-white image: both of them put their noses together, while Harley smiles at Arthur with a certain hope and sweetness.
While plot details have been kept under wraps, most of the film is said to take place in Arkham, Gotham’s infamous asylum. The sequel is also expected to include musical numbers, adding an unexpected twist to the story that might even have a much more “musical” feel than you think, which would be just as crazy and exciting. In this sense, Oscar-winning composer Hildur Guðnadóttir has hinted that the film will be full of music, not to mention the potential offered by Lady Gaga who could put her spin on it here.
At the moment, there is very little information on the plot of the highly anticipated sequel; the film is supposedly set partly in the Arkham criminal asylum, where Joker is locked up after the events of the first film; Dr. Harleen Quinzel works here and, according to the continuity of the comic book stories which the film, even nominally, is inspired by, develops a morbid fascination for the criminal; hence, the meaning of the title. The French phrase “folìe a deux” in fact indicates in psychiatry a particular condition in which two individuals, who live in close contact with each other, or a situation of intimacy, isolated from the outside world, share a sort of psychotic delirium. In the cast, in addition to Phoenix and Gaga, Catherine Keener, Brendan Gleeson, and Zazie Beets are also confirmed to return from the first film. Curiously, the first official photo of the film was released exactly one year ago, again on the occasion of Valentine’s Day
Finally, Todd Phillips’ third photographic gift further explored the nature of the villains’ relationship, highlighting the undeniable love and passion between the two as they dance romantically on a rooftop.
“I hope your day is full of love,” Phillips wrote alongside the unpublished images before announcing the official release date of the acclaimed second part of the film: “10.4.24.” Officially, this October 4 is the scheduled date to see the chemistry between Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix unfold in Joker: Folie à Deux.
Last Valentine’s Day, Phillips had already given hints of this intense relationship by publishing a photo of Phoenix and Gaga wrapped in an atmosphere of passion in what appears to be an intimate sex scene, as she wore red lipstick spread across her face afterward of having left other traces on the actors. This also suggested an unbridled connection between the characters. In addition, the filmmaker has been giving the public other dazzling previews and clues through other images on the set full of curiosities, which increase fans’ expectations.
However, the precise details of Joker: Folie à Deux are being kept under wraps, although previews suggest that the love relationship between Arthur and Harley Quinn will be the central focus of the plot. This confirms the expectations generated by the title, “Folie à Deux” (madness of two), a French term that refers to a psychological phenomenon where the madness or disorder of one person is transmitted to another. The inclusion of Lady Gaga signals a new direction for the saga, which turns the dark universe of Joker into a dramatic musical. The second part also features the participation of actors such as Zazie Beetz, who plays Sophie in the first installment, and new talents such as Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Jacob Lofland, and Harry Lawtey.
The original title, released in 2019, not only generated controversy and captured public attention, but also grossed more than $1 billion globally, sealing its status as the highest-grossing “R”-rated release in history. Although critics had mixed reactions reflected in a score of 69% on Rotten Tomatoes, Phoenix was recognized with an Oscar for Best Actor, marking the second time that an interpreter of this character managed to win the statuette, the first time going to Heath Ledger after he participates in The Dark Knight.
